Ethics Reflection Essay

Words: 3200
Pages: 13

Ethics Reflection
Agnes Annette Ghan
Capella University

ED 8112 u03a1
General Characteristics of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
In scientific research, there are two basic methods used primarily in research studies by educators: qualitative research primarily utilizes the application of inductive reasoning, while quantitative research applies deductive reasoning. Each of these methods will be explored with regards to ethical considerations within the research design. In many studies, a mixed method approach may also be used. According to Lodico, Spaulding, & Voegtle, applied research evaluates the “effectiveness and usefulness of particular educational practices” (2010, p.12). While, in contrast, basic
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Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that safeguards are in place to “protect the rights of the participants” (2010, p.18).
The components of a research proposal should include a cover page, a comprehensive description of the research study, specific depiction of the participants to be targeted, the beneficence of the study to participants, benefits vs. risk analysis, and an explanation of the informed consent forms, right to refuse participation, confidentiality measures, and debriefing activities to be used in the study. These are some of the general considerations that the researcher must weigh and uphold to maintain the high ethical standards of scientific research in the professional education community.
Ethical Strengths and Weaknesses of Each
Qualitative researchers strive to preserve the code of moral ethics in several ways. First, they strive to maintain the integrity of the research by “reading, rereading, and reexamining” the data and coding it from transcripts made during the study. These codes are constructed and refined continually during the process of qualitative research analysis. Hypotheses emerge as a result of careful qualitative data analysis. Then, the researcher triangulates the data to ensure the accuracy of the participants’ perspectives, and the researcher examines his own biases to calculate if he may be misrepresenting the data and negatively influencing the credibility of the study. According to